Review and Practice on Classification of Matter

Review of Types of Matter

  • A pure substance has a constant, defined composition and cannot be separated into simpler substances by physical means. There are two types of pure substances, elements and compounds.

    • Elements are pure substances that are made of only one type of atom. The periodic table is a table containing all elements.
    • Compounds are pure substances that are made of more than one type of atom, and can be decomposed or broken down into its elements by chemical means.

  • A mixture is composed of more than one element and / or compound. Different mixtures of the same substances can have different compositions (i.e., a mixture of water and sodium chloride may be 80% water and 20% sodium chloride, or 20% water and 80% sodium chloride.) There are two types of mixtures, homogeneous and heterogeneous.

    • A homogeneous mixture has the same composition of elements and / or compounds throughout. If you observed a homogeneous mixture under a microscope, you would see that the particles of various components are evenly distributed. A homogeneous mixture is also called a solution.
    • A heterogeneous mixture has different regions or areas with different compositions and properties. The substances in a heterogeneous mixtures are not evenly distributed.

Practice on Identifying Types of Matter

Is mercury an element, compound, or mixture?

  • element
  • compound
  • mixture
Is table salt, sodium chloride, an element, compound, or mixture?

  • element
  • compound
  • mixture
Is (pure) water an element or compound?

  • element
  • compound
What type of mixture is coffee?

  • homogeneous mixture
  • heterogeneous mixture
What type of mixture is household vinegar?

  • homogeneous mixture
  • heterogeneous mixture
What type of mixture is air?

  • homogeneous mixture
  • heterogeneous mixture
Tap water is a(n)

  • element
  • compound
  • homogeneous mixture
  • heterogeneous mixture
Fourteen carat gold is a(n)

  • element
  • compound
  • homogeneous mixture
  • heterogeneous mixture
Carbon dioxide is a(n)

  • element
  • compound
  • homogeneous mixture
  • heterogeneous mixture
Vegetable soup is a(n)

  • element
  • compound
  • homogeneous mixture
  • heterogeneous mixture
The ocean is a(n)?

  • element
  • compound
  • homogeneous mixture
  • heterogeneous mixture
Iron is a(n)

  • element
  • compound
  • homogeneous mixture
  • heterogeneous mixture
Concrete is a(n)?

  • element
  • compound
  • homogeneous mixture
  • heterogeneous mixture
Wood is an?

  • element
  • compound
  • homogeneous mixture
  • heterogeneous mixture
Chemical and Physical Properties

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